A List of idioms. This page contains examples of idioms and an ever growing list of idioms. It is a good practice to avoid use of these idioms in poetry unless used in a completely original way.
See also: Proverbs
Idioms are expressions, sayings, or phrases whose meanings cannot be understood from the meanings of the words that make it up.
Hat trickMeaning: A series of three wins, successes, or accomplishments especially in sport. When someone wins three times in a row, you call it a hat trick.
Example:
Jordan has already won 2 games in this series. We are wondering if he can make it a hat trick today.
After 2 successful terms, the mayor is hoping for a hat trick. (He wants to be elected mayor again.)
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Have a blastMeaning:To have a good time or to enjoy oneself.
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Have eyes in the back of one's head Meaning:Someone can perceive things and events that are outside of their field of vision.
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(Somebody's) heart sinks
Meaning:Feel disappointed and hopeless
If your heart sinks, you become sad and unhappy because you have lost hope.
Example:
My heart sank when I heard I still had to take 5 more exams.
Her heart sinks every time she sees the sad situation in the country.
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Here you go / areMeaning: A polite expression you use when you are giving something to someone. It is often used in restaurants. You say "Here you go / are" when you give something (food, etc.) to someone.
It is common when you are serving in a restaurant or a store.
Example:
"Here you go -- two cheese burgers, a double burger, and three pops."
"Could you pass me the salt, please?" "Here you are."
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Hit the booksMeaning: Study very hard. If you hit the books, you start to study hard seriously with determination.
Example:
I'm going to hit the books this weekend to prepare for the final exam.
If you want to get an A in this class, you should start hitting the books right now.
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Hit the ceiling / Hit the roofMeaning: Become extremely angry. If you hit the ceiling / roof, you get very angry.
Example:
Dad'll hit the ceiling when I tell him I broke his camera.
Nancy hit the roof when she found out someone drove her car without her permission and wrecked it.
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Hit the nail on the headMeaning: Say exactly a right thing. Answer to a question in exactly the right way. Be exactly right about something. If yousay someone has hit the nail on the head, you mean he/she has answered to a question or described something in exactly the right way.
Example:She hit the nail on the head when she proposed her plan at the last meeting. It's exactly the thing we need to do now!
A: I think education is the most important thing we need to work on if we want to make this city a better place.
B: You've hit the nail on the head! I completely agree with you!
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Hit the road Meaning:To leave.
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Hit the sack/hay
Meaning:Go to bed
If you hit the sack, you go to bed in order to get some sleep.
Example: It's getting very late. It's time to hit the sack.
I hit the hay before 11:00 p.m. every day.
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Hit the sack - sheets - hayMeaning:To go to bed to sleep.
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Hold One's HorsesMeaning: Wait; Be patient and careful; Wait and listen to what someone's saying. You say "Hold your horses" to someone when he/she is impatient
or wants to do something immediately without thinking about his/her action and consequences carefully.
You tell him/her to be patient and wait.
Example:
Hold your horses. We are not ready to go yet.
Hold your horses. You might find a better one for the same price in another store.
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Holy cow (Holy smoke, holy moly, etc.)
Meaning:
An expression of surprise. You say "Holy Cow!" when you are surprised at something very much.
Example:
Holy cow! How did she get the full score on such a difficult exam!
Holy smoke! Nobody expected such a big mistake in such a big competition.
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